Pursue Your Ambition with Unwavering Dedication: UGC NET English Topper Kunal Kashyap

Kishor Kunal Kashyap, UGC NET English topper shared his preparation strategy and success story with Shiksha. Read the complete interview to know about the preparation strategy and tips to crack UGC NET exam. 

Meet Kishor Kunal Kashyap, who is a testament to true hard work and dedication. Kunal switched to English Literature as a Master's after his graduation in Physics honors due to his keen interest and love for literature. After completing his master's Kunal decided to take one of the toughest and sought exams in India, UGC NET. Kunal was unable to take any coaching classes or hire a private tutor for the preparation of the UGC NET. Undeterred, he took the matter into his own hands and started preparing on his own. He started off by setting a rigorous study schedule for himself which included hours of devotion to self-study. 

Also Read:

• UGC NET Hindi Syllabus
• UGC NET Geography Syllabus

On the day of the exam, Kunal was confident and well-prepared. He tackled questions with ease, drawing upon her extensive knowledge and training and when the results were announced, Kunal's hard work and determination paid off. This was a proud moment for Kunal and his family, and it was well-deserved recognition. 

The candidates preparing for the UGC NET exam can go through the interview with Twinkle to get the UGC NET preparation strategy and tips to crack the exam.

Q: Tell us something about your background?

A: Kishor Kunal Kashyap is my name. After finishing my degree in science, I decided to major in literature. My interest in literature led me to get a master's degree in the subject from Central University, where I also qualified for the National Eligibility Test (NET) with a score of 98.99 percent. My study involves looking at the tale of Sita from new angles i.e. Myth and Literature.

Q: Why you’ve chosen this exam? Which other exams did you appear in and which you have been able to crack?

A: I've always wanted to help others learn through teaching, and passing the UGC NET test is one of the prerequisites. I decided to take the test since I'm fascinated by the study area. I have appeared for the NDA, SSC, BPSC(Lecturer) and qualified for the preliminary stage

Also Read: UGC NET Topper English Sucess Story and Preparation Tips 

Q: How much time did you prepare for the UGC NET exam? Did you crack it in the first attempt? 

A: I dedicated 6 months to preparing for the exam. It was my first attempt and yes, I cracked it also, consecutively cleared in December too. Twice a year.

Q: Tell us about the challenges you faced while preparing for the exam.

A: There is a variety of information and resources, and the curriculum covers a vast amount of ground because of recent additions. The biggest obstacles are managing time effectively and finishing all the course material.

Q: Did you take any coaching for the exam? If yes, from where and for how long? If not, how you managed to do self-study?

A: I decided against enrolling in a prep course. I learned a lot from the many videos available on YouTube that assisted me in passing the UGC NET exam. With the aid of the videos and books, I compiled my own notes, which proved to be quite useful. To pass the test, you must practice using questions from the previous year.

Q: How to prepare for UGC NET exam? Tell us the strategy you applied to prepare for the exam.

A: Read as much as you can from the PYQs. The only way to really grasp the pattern is via repeated application. Knowing how much time should be spent on each unit requires familiarity with the course outline. Each of the two papers is worth 10 units. Paper 1 is a prerequisite that must be passed before moving on to Paper 2. Common sense and the basics are covered in Paper 1. An informative book would be very useful. You have three hours to complete 150 questions on a test, so time management is crucial. Time-consuming components of Paper 1 include mathematical reasoning, logical reasoning, and data analysis.

Also Read: Succes Story of Komal Sharma (UGC NET Topper Political Science)

Q: Is coaching important to crack the exam?

A: I accomplished the task independently, leading me to believe that tutoring is not a crucial factor in successfully passing this test. Sufficient study resources including both printed materials and internet content would be ideal for academic purposes.

Q: Tell us about the UGC NET study routine?

A: Regularly engaging in the practice of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and developing a comprehensive comprehension of the underlying ideas hold significant importance. A daily practice duration of 6 to 7 hours would likely prove to be enough.

Q: What is the ideal time for starting the preparation?

A: NTA administers the examination biannually, often issuing notifications around three months prior to the scheduled examination day. It is advisable to begin preparations promptly upon completion of the form. Additionally, it is possible to begin one's preparation throughout their undergraduate years or Post Graduation.

Q: How much time did you spend regularly on preparation?

A: I allocated around 6-7 hours of my daily schedule for studying, taking into consideration the need to additionally prepare for the BPSC examination. This decision was based on the recognition of the need for effective time management. I have completed the practice examinations and the previous year's question papers.

Also Read:

• UGC NET Certificate Validity
• UGC NET exam analysis 2023 

Q: What should be the section-wise preparation strategy?

A: Spend your time wisely considering your abilities and limitations. You may save time by skimming through the material you already know well. When it comes to the unfamiliar material, take the time to read it through and take notes.

Q: Can you refer to some good books for UGC NET preparation?

A: I can't say that about the books but the books best worked for me are:

• Routledge by Ronal Carter, William j long
• Beginning Theory by Peter Bary, An Introduction to Cultural Studies. Pramod K. Nayar
• Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory
• Book by Pramod K Nayar
• R Gupta’s Pyqs 

Q: What according to you were the easiest and toughest sections?

A: All of Paper 1 was unfamiliar to me, making it difficult to figure out how to study for it. While I knew some of the material in Paper 2, there was a lot that I didn't know. It was challenging for me to remember and study the material on cultural studies and literary theory that was included. Data interpretation, logical thinking, and mathematical reasoning were not difficult for me.

Q: How you tackled your strong and weak areas?

A: Since it's not a good idea to try to learn anything new or challenging just before an exam, I had a decent grasp of the topics in my weak areas from the minute I began studying. One month before the test, one should sit down with a stopwatch to practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) following the exam's format. 

Also Read:

• UGC NET 2023 Commerce Question Paper
• UGC NET eligibility 2023

Q: Did you take any mock tests? How do mock tests help to improve your performance in the exam?

A: The R Gupta (PYQs) served as my source of practice. This practice test is designed to help you gauge your speed and accuracy in preparation for the actual UGC NET examination. It's useful for keeping tabs on your study progress. I found great benefits in taking brief, succinct notes.

Q: After clearing the UGC NET exam, how can anyone find a job?

A: If you pass the test, you may go on to JRF's PhD programme. Aspirants may be mentored. One may work as an assistant professor or a research fellow depending on their area of expertise.

Q: What are your hobbies? Did you attribute it to the preparation?

A: I like poetry writing, reading, and taking on difficult new experiences. I credit my success to my doggedness and willingness to take risks.

Q: What factors do you attribute to success?

A: The qualities of hard effort, dedication, bravery, and persistence. The significance of hard effort lies in its ability to provide opportunities for success, while its absence diminishes the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes.

Q: Any message or advice to future UGC NET aspirants?

A: To achieve success in the test, it is important to maintain a sense of fairness and integrity with oneself. It is important to ensure fairness in one's preparation. Thoroughly engage in adequate preparation for the task at hand. Avoid excessive movement and exploration in pursuit of resources. It is advisable to choose a single book and subscribe to a certain YouTube channel that aligns with one's own preferences. Additionally, the practice of creating individualised notes is recommended as it facilitates enhanced comprehension and assimilation of knowledge. It is advisable to limit the scope of your resources and engage in extensive practice. Utilising the previous year's questions is crucial for achieving success in the test. It is advisable to address one's areas of improvement, overcome them, and refrain from being influenced by external opinions. Pursue your ambition with unwavering dedication and commitment.

Read More: Shivani Karn UGC NET English Literature Topper Interview